An optical-wavelength converting wheel component comprises a motor (1) and an optical-wavelength converting wheel (2). The optical-wavelength converting wheel (2) comprises an optical-wavelength converting material layer (21) and at least one functional layer adjacent to the optical-wavelength converting material layer (21), particularly the optical-wavelength converting wheel (2) further comprises at least one spacing layer (26), which is a thin gap spaced between the location of the optical-wavelength converting material on the optical wavelength converting material layer (21) and the functional layer, arranged between the optical-wavelength converting material layer (21) and the functional layer. Brightening can be realized in low cost by means of adopting a light source comprising the optical-wavelength converting wheel component.
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1. A wavelength conversion wheel device comprising:
a motor; and
a wavelength conversion wheel,
wherein the wavelength conversion wheel includes a wavelength conversion material layer which absorbs an excitation light and converts it to a converted light, and a dichroic reflector adjacent the wavelength conversion material layer, the dichroic reflector transmitting an excitation light and reflecting a converted light generated by the wavelength conversion material,
wherein the wavelength conversion wheel further includes a first spacing layer disposed between the wavelength conversion material layer and the dichroic reflector, such that at a location of a wavelength conversion material on the wavelength conversion material layer, the wavelength conversion material layer is spaced apart from the dichroic reflector by a first gap no thicker than 10% of a width of the wavelength conversion material in a radial direction, and
a filter, where the filter and the dichroic reflector are respectively disposed on two sides of the wavelength conversion material layer, and wherein the filter is used to select the wavelength range or output angle of the output light;
wherein the wavelength conversion wheel further includes a second spacing layer disposed between the wavelength conversion material layer and the filter, such that at a location of the wavelength conversion material on the wavelength conversion material layer, the wavelength conversion material layer is spaced apart from the filter by a second gap, and
wherein the thickness of the first gap and a thickness of the second gap are defined by the first and second spacing layer, respectively and are fixed.
2. The wavelength conversion wheel device of
3. The wavelength conversion wheel device of
4. The wavelength conversion wheel device of
6. The wavelength conversion wheel device of
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Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a color wheel component which can control the color or direction of output light.
Description of the Related Art
To provide high power, high brightness projection light, current projectors are moving toward using light sources based on wavelength conversion principles. In this type of light sources, using wavelength conversion wheel devices have the advantage of extended life and enhanced light conversion efficiency.
Current wavelength conversion wheel devices typically include a motor and a wavelength conversion wheel. Based on the light travelling direction on the wavelength conversion wheel, wavelength conversion wheel devices fall into two main categories.
The first category uses transmission type wavelength conversion wheels. As shown in
The second category uses reflection type wavelength conversion wheels. As shown in
A problem with the above two types of conventional devices is that in both the transmission type and the reflection type wavelength conversion wheel devices, a part of the converted light is lost. This adversely affects the output brightness of the light source device. In particular, for the transmission type device, because the wavelength conversion material layer 21 directly contacts the filter 23, converted light 51 that exits at large angles will increase the output light spot size of the light source device.
The present invention is directed to a wavelength conversion wheel device that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. An object of the present invention is to increase the brightness of the light source using a simple structure.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, the present invention provides a wavelength conversion wheel device which includes a motor and a wavelength conversion wheel; the wavelength conversion wheel including a wavelength conversion material layer and at least one functional layer adjacent the wavelength conversion material layer; in particular, the wavelength conversion wheel further includes at least one spacing layer disposed between the wavelength conversion material layer and the functional layer, such that at the location of the wavelength conversion material, the wavelength conversion material layer is spaced apart from the functional layer by an air gap no thicker than 10% of a width of the wavelength conversion material in a radial direction.
In some embodiment, the functional layer includes a reflector that reflects the converted light generated by the wavelength conversion material and the unabsorbed portion of the excitation light. Alternatively, the functional layer includes a dichroic reflector which transmits the excitation light and reflects the converted light. Further, the wavelength conversion wheel device may include a filter, where the filter and the dichroic reflector are respectively disposed on two sides of the wavelength conversion material layer, the filter being used to select the wavelength or output angle of the output light.
In the above embodiments, the spacing layer is a rigid plate having an inner portion and an outer ring separated by a hollow section, and at least two reinforcing bridges connecting the inner portion and the outer ring.
Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage of easy to manufacture, low cost, and high value.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings.
Different functional layer are used in the embodiments based on the different working principle of the wavelength conversion wheel 2:
In the reflection type wavelength conversion wheel shown in
In the transmission type wavelength conversion wheel shown in
The wavelength conversion wheel 2 according to embodiments of the present invention further includes at least one spacer layer 26, disposed between the wavelength conversion material layer 21 and the functional layer, such that at the location of the wavelength conversion material, the wavelength conversion material layer is spaced apart from the functional layer by an air gap no thicker than 10% of the width of the wavelength conversion material in the radial direction. Generally, the thinner the air gap the better. Considering the rotation of the wheel relative to the illumination light spot of the excitation light, to reduce material use, the wavelength conversion material is preferably distributed a ring shaped region 211 of the wavelength conversion material layer 21. The spacer layer 26 has a ring shaped hollow region 261 corresponding to the location of the ring shaped region 211. The thickness of the spacer layer 26 is no thicker than 10% of the width of the ring shaped region 211. Taking a light source for a projector as an example (but the invention is not limited thereto), the output light typically include red, green and blue primary colors. In a light source used for such a projector, the wavelength conversion wheel device should include at least two different wavelength conversion materials. Thus, the ring shaped region 211 may be divided into two or more sub-regions for carrying different wavelength conversion materials. Correspondingly, for ease of installation, the spacer layer 26 is preferably a rigid plate having an inner portion and an outer ring and a hollow section 261 separating them, with at least two reinforcing bridges 264 connecting the inner portion and outer ring.
Test shows that a light source device using a wavelength conversion wheel device according to embodiments of the present invention attain over 20% enhancement in output brightness as compared to light sources using a conventional wavelength conversion wheel. The working principle is explained with reference to
As shown in
To form a secure structure, a clamp structure is preferably employed at the periphery of the wavelength conversion wheel 2 to keep the various layers together. This structure is not shown in the figures. Also, the wavelength conversion material in the various embodiments may be phosphor materials, nano materials, light emitting dye, etc. One or more transparent binding materials may be used to bind the wavelength conversion materials and secure them to form the wavelength conversion material layer 21, to enhance the light output stability of the light source. Using phosphor powder as an example (but not limited to such), the transparent material may be a transparent gel or colloid or a transparent glass, mixed with the phosphor powder to form a desired shape. The transparent material may also be a transparent film, and the phosphor powder can be heat-pressed onto the transparent film.
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